Why no R-Day honour, ask Lance Naik’s relatives

The family of martyr Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh is disappointed over not being honoured at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi.

Sudhakar, along with Hemraj, was killed on the border by the Pakistani army. Sudhakar's father Sachidanand Singh, who was in Indore on Saturday to attend a programme organised by Apna Samuh Tiranga Abhiyan Sanstha, hoped that the nation would not forget his son's sacrifice.

Gyanendra Singh, Sudhakar's cousin, did not hide the family's dejection when he said: "We were expecting that the government might honour both the soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the border, but nothing of that sort happened. We are not complaining but we expect the government to remember the sacrifice and honour them on January 26 or August 15."

Singh said they are still hopeful that the army would realise their worth, and honour them subsequently.

However, the lance naik's father expressed satisfaction after army chief General Bikram Singh visited their home.

The programme was organised by Apna Samuh Tiranga Abhiyan Sanstha, which presented a cheque of R51,000 each to the lance naik's father and Rukhsana Kausar, a girl who shot dead a notorious LeT commander in Kashmir.